Need Advice? Talk to an Expert
Choosing The Right Order & Delivery Platform for Your Restaurant
Need Advice? Talk to an Expert
For the vast majority of people, gone are the days of keeping a book of paper menus on hand for nights when they want to order in. With the rise of technology and the ubiquitous nature of mobile apps, ordering food online, and arranging for its swift delivery, has never been easier. This has been beneficial for consumers, of course, but also for restaurants.
Smartphones have effectively become modern-day food courts that provide restaurants with the opportunity to market to new customers. But not all apps are created equal. Just like there are a number of different POS systems for restaurants, there are a variety on-line order and delivery platforms that your restaurant can choose from and depending on both your business goals and type of cuisine, you might find some ordering system apps to be more useful than others. Our experts have identified a variety of different e-commerce order, takeout, and delivery options for you to explore below.
What to Consider Before Picking a 3rd Party Order and Delivery Platform
All 3rd party delivery platforms were not created equal. As you navigate the process of sifting through all the options available to you, here are some of the things you should consider before moving forward:
Type of Business
Certain platforms make more sense for certain businesses. If you have a specific type of business, like a pizzeria or a food truck, you might want to consider third party delivery platforms that were built specifically for your business.
Access to Delivery Drivers
Do you need to use independent contractors or do you have your own delivery team? Some platforms allow you to opt into using their network of drivers or choosing not to if you have your own.
Fees and Commissions
The pay structure is different from platform to platform so it’s important to read the fine print before signing on the dotted line with a third party delivery app. As with all of the merchants you consider for your restaurant, be sure to read the fine print when it comes to the pricing terms.
Our Top Picks
Feeling overwhelmed by all the ordering system options out there online? We’ve got you covered. Our expert team of restaurant technology consultants have identified their top choices for order and delivery platforms for you to check out. As you review, pay close attention to more than just price–from the level of your own involvement in the process to the other types of integrations and available analytics that work well with each platform, it’s important to take your restaurant needs into careful consideration before making an investment.
Disclaimer: Any paid partnerships have no influence on our evaluations and suggestions. All our opinions are our own.
Save up to 20% off
Available in the US and CA
ChowNow was designed with restaurant profitability in mind. With features that help you streamline your operations and expand your online brand, the platform goes beyond just order and delivery.
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Features
- Website ordering and the ChowNow app
- Commission-free orders across all channels
- Access to the Order Better Network
- Flex delivery
- Access over 30 POS integrations
- Automated email marketing
- Access to full customer data
Where it excels
Works via a subscription model instead of commissions-based like other 3PO partners, this could save restaurants a lot in monthly commissions fees.
Pricing
While ChowNow operates without charging commissions, restaurants are required to pay a fee to access its services.
Additional fees include:
• Credit card processing fees: 2.95% + 20 cents per transaction (covers daily deposits and 100% fraud and chargeback protection)
• Apple developer fee: $99 paid annually directly to Apple for the listing of your mobile app
• Flex Delivery: $7.98 flat rate for up to 8 miles
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Support
Up to 50% off annually
Available in the US
Sauce is a commission-free pickup and delivery network for restaurants. Built with an aim to improve the customer experience when it comes to third-party delivery, Sauce helps restaurants drive repeat business without breaking the bank.
Features
- Refund management
- Unlimited drivers
- Dispatch algorithm for faster delivery
- Premium delivery support
- Tracking options
- Real-time flexibility
- Catering logistics
- Multiple direct ordering channels
- Partnerships and integrations
Where it excels
Sauce provides real-time order tracking and management in an effort to help restaurants optimize their kitchen workflow and reduce wait times. Plus, no commission fees!
Support
Pricing
5% off price
Available in the US and CA
Loop AI is a platform built to help restaurants protect, measure, and grow profitability from third-party delivery. By providing tools to manage chargebacks, keep delivery storefronts online, and support marketing efforts, Loop AI helps operators improve margins and drive incremental revenue.
Features
- Automatically keeps restaurants' digital storefronts active on third-party marketplaces
- Uses AI to fight 3rd party delivery chargebacks
- Provides data insights by location and offering recommendations
- Generators journal entries and pushes them into accounting software
Where it excels
Loop AI excels at high-volume fast-casual and quick-service operations due to its ultra-fast conversational latency, advanced order modification logic, and seamless menu-syncing capabilities.
Support
Loop AI provides dedicated onboarding managers alongside 24/7 technical phone and email support to ensure continuous line uptime for busy kitchens.
Pricing
Free insights report
Available in the US and CA
Paytronix unifies online ordering, mobile apps, guest loyalty programs, and automated marketing campaigns into a centralized, data-driven ecosystem. By capturing and analyzing individual guest transactions to deliver highly personalized experiences.
Features
- Fully branded online ordering menus built for web and mobile featuring automated optimization
- AI-driven prompts during the checkout flow that analyze order combinations in real time to automatically make suggestions to increase the average delivery size
- Integrates natively with on-demand delivery driver networks to request couriers and provide ETA tracking
- Consolidates order data from third-party marketplaces into a single database allowing you to run targeted campaigns
- Instantly update digital menu availability and order acceptance based on kitchen volume
Where it excels
Paytronix excels at advanced data segmentation and high-velocity predictive marketing. Its proprietary machine learning models can aggregate data from disparate tech systems across hundreds of location for large-scale data visibility.
Pricing
Support
Up 10% off setup
Available in the US and CA
By eliminating manual order entry, Deliverect helps restaurants reduce errors, improve efficiency, and speed up service. Whether you’re managing one location or hundreds, Deliverect makes it easier to track orders, update menus, and keep operations running smoothly—all from one centralized platform.
Features
- Aggregates all ordering platforms into one easy to use format
- Direct integration into most POS systems or one proprietary tablet
- Integration with social media channels for easy promotion ordering
- Courier tracking to track deliveries after they've left your store
Where it excels
Small operators to nationwide chains use this service. All major POS services are directly integrated. Updating menus and promotions made easy.
Pricing
$99/month for 3rd party aggregation
Deliverect+ $30/month
Dispatch $39/month
Support
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